Okay, one more cutest-on-the-African-plains contender before switching continents. Lion cubs are certainly worthy of being on anyone’s short list. This little guy was photographed just north of the Masai Mara in Kenya.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 270mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/320th of a second
After yesterday’s post of the baby elephant, someone mentioned that certain big cat babies also challenge for cutest animal on the African plains. I wholeheartedly agree. I especially like baby cheetahs. Here’s one curled up with its mom as the setting sun lights up the tall grasses of the Masai Mara in Kenya.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 360mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second
I mentioned earlier in the week that you won’t find anything on the African plains much cuter than a baby giraffe. I left the door open a bit because there are a few legitimate contenders. Baby elephants being one of them. I met this little guy in Botswana on my last trip to Africa. The poor little thing had a foreshortened trunk, perhaps a birth defect, but more likely the result of an encounter with a predator.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/250th of a second
This is a paradise flycatcher. The males of the species have very long tails. As the name suggests, they are insectivorous — mainly catching their prey while in flight. I photographed this one on the island of Nosy Mangabe off the east coast of Madagascar. The background is a bit out of focus and motion blurred, but you can see that the bird is perched on a branch over a small waterfall.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 185mm) ISO 400, f/2.8 at 1/60th of a second, two SB-800 strobes
Frame filling shots of orangutans in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesia are easy to get because the orangutans there are so habituated to people. In this shot, my aim was to go a bit wider and incorporate the forest environment where they live. Seeing these large red apes swinging through their natural habitat is quite a sight. The entire forest seems to sway with the weight of their bodies.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 102mm) ISO 800, f/4.5 at 1/640th of a second
Just a straight on shot of a baby giraffe in mediocre light. But there aren’t many things on the African plains as cute as a baby giraffe. This one was photographed in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Mom was nearby eating the leaves off the top of a bush just to the left of frame.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/500th of a second
Cape buffalo are pretty much the curmudgeons of the African plains. They are considered one of the big five (along with leopards, lions, elephants and rhinos) but they’re the one of the five that nobody really cares too much about. Probably because they are pretty common. And look like cattle. I’ve always loved the George Washington-esque horns atop their heads. And the way that they stare you down as if they can’t believe you would dare come any closer. This one, however, didn’t seem to care too much about anything at all.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 380mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second
Night monkeys are the only truly nocturnal primates in the Americas. This guy is an Azara’s night monkey and was photographed in the Pampas region of Bolivia. Night monkeys are primarily frugivores. What is a frugivore, you ask? A fruit eater, of course. As you can see, this guy is enjoying a nice mango-looking piece of juicy goodness, and seems to be quite pleased with it. Word has it they also will eat the occasional flower, leaf or insect, but for the most part, it’s all about the fruit.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-800 flash units
This upland goose was minding his business as he walked along the shoreline with his goslings on Carcass Island in the Falklands…
Then, suddenly a kelp goose (all white) came out of nowhere and went after the goslings. Dad quickly squared off as the youngsters ran to safety with Mom (you can see the last two goslings to the right of frame)…
Dad made a nice move to the right of the kelp goose…
Then applied a few quick jabs to the midsection…
The kelp goose was overmatched and fled the scene…
Order restored, Dad joined Mom and the kids to continue on their way.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 400, f/14 at various shutter speeds of 1/400th of a second to 1/800th of a second
I was asked last week how I know the names of so many different species of animals. Here’s an example of one that I haven’t been able to identify just yet. I know, of course, that it’s a bat, and that I photographed it roosting inside a hollow tree in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesia, but there are so many different bats that knowing the exact species can be difficult. To any experts that might be out there, what do you think?
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO 400, f/10 at 3 seconds
